Full-size trucks are known for a lot of things, but fuel economy is not one of them. What if you could have the pulling power of a full-size truck, but with the fuel economy of a much smaller vehicle? Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’s Ram Truck division aims to give you just that. The 2014 Ram 1500 is available with the new 3.0L V-6 EcoDiesel engine, based off a design by fellow FCA holding VM Motori and provides 28mpg Highway and 23mpg combined cycle fuel economy. This is while the motor produces 240 horsepower and a 420 pound-feet of torque combined with a new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Ram 1500 is also available with the almost equally thrifty 3.6L Pentastar gasoline V6 with 19mph city, 27mph highway, and a 22mpg combined cycle as well as the the 5.7L Hemi V8.

February 4, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - The EcoDiesel-powered 2014 Ram 1500 has earned a 28-mpg rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the best highway-cycle test result ever achieved by a full-size, half-ton pickup.

It also exceeds the EPA highway rating for the top-ranked small pickup.

The breakthrough results mean Ram keeps the half-ton fuel-economy record set last year by the 2013 Ram 1500. Equipped with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 gasoline engine, the truck earned 25 mpg highway, a rating that stands for model-year 2014.

The Ram 1500 now owns the half-ton pickup segment’s top two spots in the EPA’s 2014 highway fuel-economy rankings.

“The new Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is truly in a class of its own with 28 MPG and the ability to tow 9,200 pounds,” said Reid Bigland – President and CEO, Ram Truck Brand. “To put the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel in context, it gets 6 mpg better fuel economy than the best F150 EcoBoost. Overall the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel has outstanding pick-up truck capability with compact car-like fuel economy.”

“We are immensely gratified by achieving these milestones,” says Bob Lee, Chrysler Group’s Head of Engine, Powertrain and Electrified Propulsion Systems Engineering. “Not only do they confirm our position as an industry leader in powertrain development and truck design, they promise tremendous benefits for our customers.”

The EcoDiesel is the first and only advanced-technology turbo-diesel offering in the half-ton pickup segment. In addition to superior fuel economy, it delivers peak torque of 420 lb.-ft. (569 Nm), which is unsurpassed among full-size trucks equipped with V-6 engines.

The all-new engine’s block and bedplate are made from lightweight Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI). Its performance is enhanced by the innovative MultiJet 2 common-rail fuel-injection system, which is exclusive in North America to Chrysler Group.

MultiJet 2’s high-dispersion nozzles and advanced-technology servovalve can accommodate up to eight fuel-injection events per cylinder cycle. This mitigates noise and improves low-speed throttle response, while also reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

Named one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines for 2014, the EcoDiesel V-6 was a significant factor in the Ram 1500’s selection as 2014 Motor Trend Truck of the Year. The Ram 1500 is the first vehicle to win this prestigious award in back to back years.

The 2014 Ram 1500’s efficiencies are not restricted to powertrain technologies. Other key features include:

Active grille shutters that optimize air flow for improved aerodynamics
Electric Power Steering (EPS), which relieves the engine from constantly turning a hydraulic pump
Thoughtful material-use strategies that leverage lightweight aluminum for components – such as hoods – that do not compromise capability

The 2014 Ram 1500 is backed with an unsurpassed five-year /100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty. The powertrain-limited warranty, which is transferrable, covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair a covered powertrain component – engine, transmission and drive system.

The standard three-year / 36,000-mile Basic Limited Warranty provides bumper-to-bumper coverage for the Ram 1500, from the body to the electrical system.

The 2014 Ram 1500 is built at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant (Warren, Mich.), which has assembled more than 12.5 million trucks since it started operations in 1938. Regular Cab models of the 2014 Ram 1500 are built at the Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant in Saltillo, Mexico.

About Ram Truck Brand

The Ram Truck brand continues to establish its own identity and clearly define its customer since its launch as a standalone vehicle brand. Creating a distinct brand for Ram trucks has allowed the brand to concentrate on how core customers use their trucks and what new features they’d like to see. Whether focusing on a family that uses its half-ton truck day in and day out, a hard-working Ram Heavy Duty owner or a business that depends on its commercial vehicles every day, Ram has the truck market covered.

The Ram Truck brand has the most innovative lineup of full-size trucks on the market. Ram Truck has emerged as a full-size truck leader by investing substantially in new products, infusing them with great looks, refined interiors, durable engines and features that further enhance their capabilities. Truck customers, from half-ton to commercial, have a demanding range of needs and require their vehicles to provide high levels of capability. Ram trucks are designed to deliver a total package.

About Benjamin J. Roethig

Ben is an external Associate Editor at Geek Beat. He can be described connoisseur of things technological. Ben's hobbies include reading up on Military, Naval, and Aeronautical history, playing around with his Macs and iDevices, exploring the mountainous bluffs of Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL, and proving that 15+ years of practice does not make perfect on his guitars. If you want to find him Ben can be found on Twitter (@benroethig), Google (gplus.to/benroethig), and as an occasional guest on Apple related podcasts.